PRESS RELEASE

EUROFER to govern automotive steel 'Quality Tracking system' project

Brussels, 4 February 2016 – As of today, the European Steel Association (EUROFER) becomes the governing body for the Quality Tracking system project for automotive steel, initially established by a consortium run by ArcelorMittal, ThyssenKrupp and Tata Steel.

The aim of the Quality Tracking system is to reduce material wastage through the automotive supply chain, and reduce risks associated with localised defects slipping through all quality systems into semi-finished parts. It also offers the potential to feedforward and use any on-line measured properties, such as roughness.

Chihyuan Liu, the newly appointed EUROFER Quality Tracking Project Manager said, “The Quality Tracking System leads to a lower risk of defects, an increased yield of prime steel across the industry (enhanced resource efficiency), and a greater facility for steel makers to optimise and/or reduce the repair processing of coils”.

Axel Eggert, EUROFER’s Director General said, “EUROFER, as the new governing body, is charged with the rollout and industrialisation of the technology, including promotion, as well as turning it into a European technical standard”.

“We look forward to this challenging and important responsibility”, concluded Mr Eggert.

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About the European steel industry

The European steel industry is a world leader in innovation and environmental sustainability. It has a turnover of around €170 billion and directly employs 330,000 highly-skilled people, producing on average 170 million tonnes of steel per year. More than 500 steel production sites across 24 EU Member States provide direct and indirect employment to millions more European citizens. Closely integrated with Europe’s manufacturing and construction industries, steel is the backbone for development, growth and employment in Europe.

Steel is the most versatile industrial material in the world. The thousands of different grades and types of steel developed by the industry make the modern world possible. Steel is 100% recyclable and therefore is a fundamental part of the circular economy. As a basic engineering material, steel is also an essential factor in the development and deployment of innovative, CO2-mitigating technologies, improving resource efficiency and fostering sustainable development in Europe.